2018 PDC World Championship- Alexandra Palace, London-14th December 2017- 1st January 2018

[WizardofozFan]

We're going to get a magical moment when the winner is crowned, and hopefully a really close, tense battle this evening.

If Cross wins, it would be a magical underdog triumph having been an electrician this time 12 months ago. A phenomenal achievement.
If Taylor wins, it would be a dream ending to the greatest British sporting career ever. Imagine going out of a sport you've helped to build with 17 World titles and shed loads of others. Tears will be in my eyes regardless, I cannot wait. There is no bad outcome.

And two Englishmen in the final, after all that's been made about a lack of them in the ranks nowadays!

[ssjsa]

Following the completion of the Semi Final matches we are now up to an incredible twenty three100+ averages. 



Ton plus averages:

1. Michael van Gerwen 106.17 Last 64
2. Christian Kist 100.23 Last 64
3. Gerwyn Price 101.55 Last 64
4. Dimitri van den Bergh 104.17 Last 64
5. Rob Cross 104.12 Last 64
6. Gary Anderson 100.93 Last 64
7. Daryl Gurney 100.51 Last 64
8. Raymond van Barneveld 102.00 Last 64
9. Vincent van der Voort 101.17 Last 32
10. Michael van Gerwen 108.65 Last 32
11. Michael Smith 103.29 Last 32
12. Rob Cross 102.65 Last 32
13. Raymond van Barneveld 102.78 Last 32
14. Peter Wright 103.44 Last 32
15. Jamie Lewis 107.27 Last 32
16. Raymond van Barneveld 101.04 Last 16
17. Michael van Gerwen 100.06 Last 16
18. Phil Taylor 101.34 Last 16
19. Jamie Lewis 101.26 Quarter Finals
20. Michael van Gerwen 102.91 Quarter Finals
21. Phil Taylor 102.02 Quarter Finals
22. Michael van Gerwen 102.44 Semi Finals
23. Rob Cross 100.97 Semi Finals

[robot]

Reflecting on Taylor over the years, with specific reference to his interviews, the word that springs to mind is immaturity. They way he goes of at complete tangents some time he could also have some sort of attention disorder or even be a little bit 'simple'.

[slymaster]

or even be a little bit 'simple'.

I am saying that for years. Not as an insult. Just a very simple man who got rich, famous and all that jazz by playing darts.
Overwhelmed by all of it. First World Championship - Winner, a superstar for 2 decades. Easy to become overbearing.
Success did no come easy but fast and ongoing. And because he was/is a winner he had to do a zillion interviews which did not help.
Name-dropping and repetitive phrases were always an easy cop-out. When he really wanted to say something real...well lets say it was difficult.

No finesse and profoundness, just black or white.

Despite his success, being in the limelight, top of the bill - he is very insecure. Name dropping - because he does not feel that he belongs,
on the outside, looking in. I believe he is really proud to know all these celebs, like a fan.

Over the years I read a ton of his interviews - Taylor beyond he oche, there isnt much there imo.
Retirement -then having 200 exhibitions. What else can he do?

He sacrificed all for the darts. Really had to work very hard for his success.
Even a bit sad... But hey ho - there is always a price to pay!

[ssjsa]

Tweet from Christopher. Think we are in for a D16 barrage tonight.In fact think I predicted D8 as the winning double in our competition. If so am going to edit it to D16.

Visual analysis of Cross' and Taylor's darts at double 16. Phil has been so accurate, and has missed inside so seldom, that you could fit the majority of his darts at D16 into an area barely larger than your thumbnail.

[ssjsa]

After looking at the data above have put a bet on D16 being the match winning double at 3/1. Same odds as D20.

[robot]

or even be a little bit 'simple'.

I am saying that for years. Not as an insult. Just a very simple man who got rich, famous and all that jazz by playing darts.
Overwhelmed by all of it. First World Championship - Winner, a superstar for 2 decades. Easy to become overbearing.
Success did no come easy but fast and ongoing. And because he was/is a winner he had to do a zillion interviews which did not help.
Name-dropping and repetitive phrases were always an easy cop-out. When he really wanted to say something real...well lets say it was difficult.

No finesse and profoundness, just black or white.

Despite his success, being in the limelight, top of the bill - he is very insecure. Name dropping - because he does not feel that he belongs,
on the outside, looking in. I believe he is really proud to know all these celebs, like a fan.

Over the years I read a ton of his interviews - Taylor beyond he oche, there isnt much there imo.
Retirement -then having 200 exhibitions. What else can he do?

He sacrificed all for the darts. Really had to work very hard for his success.
Even a bit sad... But hey ho - there is always a price to pay!

spot on as usual Sly

[slymaster]

What were the odds for Taylor back in 1990 and Cross pre2018?

[BlueSpark]

What were the odds for Taylor back in 1990 and Cross pre2018?

I'm sure Taylor was 80/100-1 in 1990 pre tournament.
Sure I read in Waddells biography.

[ifm]

Having watched the Jumanji sequel this afternoon I shall watch the snowman tonight, Michael Fassbender, looks decent.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Murphio]

If Cross is allowed to play his game I think he wins. Taylor has the experience though - and likely the crowd. Aswell as that Cross has carried a lot of luck - Michael Smith should have put him out and Van den Berg was arguably the better player. And of course he survived six match darts against MVG. That could also be a positive - who knows. All things considered - evens at Cross and 10/11 on Taylor is probably about right.

[Wubbalubbadubdub]

Having watched the Jumanji sequel this afternoon I shall watch the snowman tonight, Michael Fassbender, looks decent.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

It' shite, i'll save you 2 hours of slow boring suspense. It's nowt you haven't seen before if you've watched any of those Swedish? ones on BBC4.

3 Billboard outside ebbing missouri is far better.

[footballafc]

What were the odds for Taylor back in 1990 and Cross pre2018?

Taylor was 125/1 and Cross 35/1

I think.

[paolo2144]

As much as I would like Taylor to go out with a bang and lift his 17th World title i feel it is destined for Rob Cross to win.

The entire tournament he has scored and finished really well and whilst Phil has been fantastic on his doubles there is not one match where he has scored well throughout, patches perhaps in some of the matches but not consistently.

Also with the exception of the Gary Anderson match he has started poorly every other time and looked really nervy, he was gifted the first set in all his opening 3 matches and against Lewis he should have lost 3 of first 4 sets as his scoring was poor.

If Rob Cross can keep calm and not let the occasion get to him and i think he seems a pretty cool customer he should win but if Taylor can hang with him or even get ahead early on then with his experience and the crowd on his side then he could still spoil Rob's dreams.

I should say if Phil was still in his prime say as he was 5 years ago i would bethinking 90% he would win tonight but so far even though he has finished superbly his scoring has been very ordinary and to win tonight he will need to get his first dart right

[ifm]

Having watched the Jumanji sequel this afternoon I shall watch the snowman tonight, Michael Fassbender, looks decent.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

It' shite, i'll save you 2 hours of slow boring suspense. It's nowt you haven't seen before if you've watched any of those Swedish? ones on BBC4.

3 Billboard outside ebbing missouri is far better.

Cheers I'll watch that instead.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Murphio]

Taylor has won the bull and given the throw to Cross. Could this be a mistake given the way Cross held his throw for the first five sets against MVG?

[Wubbalubbadubdub]

Taylor has won the bull and given the throw to Cross. Could this be a mistake given the way Cross held his throw for the first five sets against MVG?

The mind games and tricks have started already, if Taylor does go behind I expect him to use every trick in the book to get back in it.

[Murphio]

Taylor has won the bull and given the throw to Cross. Could this be a mistake given the way Cross held his throw for the first five sets against MVG?

The mind games and tricks have started already, if Taylor does go behind I expect him to use every trick in the book to get back in it.

I felt this would be crucial - I think Cross would be better leading than chasing. I'm surprised Taylor has done this given the semi-final v MVG.

[ssjsa]

Taylor has won the bull and given the throw to Cross. Could this be a mistake given the way Cross held his throw for the first five sets against MVG?

The mind games and tricks have started already, if Taylor does go behind I expect him to use every trick in the book to get back in it.

For me there is neither an advantage nor disadvantage in throwing first.

However on an entirely separate note, is my memory correct that Nicho gave the advantage away in a best of 19 match against Taylor, in an attempt to noise him up.

[Murphio]

Taylor has won the bull and given the throw to Cross. Could this be a mistake given the way Cross held his throw for the first five sets against MVG?

And that Taylor has been poor by his standards early in games here I fully expect Cross to win this anyway. Taylor is not at his best for me as long as Cross doesn’t let the occasion get to him or give Taylor to much respect/ get dragged into mind games by him he will be too good for him.

Yeah I think so. But if you think back to the Matchplay final and the battering Taylor gave MVG - I would not write him off. He has had a very fortunate route to the final - that might actually be to his detriment.